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As it faces its worst drought crisis in decades, Morocco has pledged innovative solutions to mitigate the pressing concern of water scarcity.
The country is harnessing renewable energy to power advanced desalination plants as highlighted in numerous recent reports, including one from the Wall Street Journal Pro magazine.
“One solution to the problem might be found in a fishing town three hours southwest of Morocco’s tourist capital Marrakech, where an old technology is being given a new lease on life thanks to an abundance of wind and sunlight,” WSJ wrote today.
Recalling Morocco’s natural assets, the journal emphasized the country’s favorable climate characterized by abundant sunshine and consistent winds, which are instrumental in establishing the country as a leading hub for renewable energy.
The journal further mentioned how renewable energy generated power has been growing in Morocco, noting that the country currently sources 20% of its energy from renewables.
Morocco’s goal is to source 52% of its electricity from renewables by 2030.
WSJ also highlighted desalination projects in the North African country, including the Agadir plant which procure 275,000 cubic meters of water daily.
Read also: Sun, Sand and Wind: Morocco’s Green Energy Ambitions Shift Gears
With 150,000 cubic meters allocated for drinking water, the project is “enough to cover the basic daily needs of one million people,” the journal added, noting that this is also able to cover the rest going to irrigation.
The journal also quoted experts who expressed satisfaction with Morocco’s desalination solutions, including Peter Fiske, executive director of the National Alliance for Water Innovation.
The alliance is part of the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab in California.
“Desalination is really a very good asset in a water portfolio because unlike all the other assets that you cout put in a water portfolio —surface water, groundwater, even recycling wastewater—all those assets have a strong correlation to drought and climate change,” WSJ Pro quoted Fiske as saying.
In June, Morocco launched the construction of the Casablanca seawater desalination plant in the commune of Lamharza Essahel in the province of El Jadida.
The plant is projected to have an annual production capacity of 300 million cubic meters and serve an estimated population of 7.5 million inhabitants.
In addition to its ambitions to boost energy production, Morocco is equally on its way to emerge as a competitive player in green hydrogen.
In June 2023, Morocco’s phosphate giant OCP Group announced an investment plan totalling $13 billion, covering projects in renewables, green hydrogen, as well as support for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) operating in the industrial, agriculture, and energy sectors.
